LGD pup questions

[ugabulldog]

Wife and I are looking into getting a G.P. for protection for our 3 livestock pets. Lots of good info here but I had a few questions if anyone can chime in, thanks. On lgd.org it mentions NOT to put LGD pup in with bottle fed babies, our 3 animals for it to protect are all bottle babies, a 9 mo. old goat, a 2 mo. old goat, and a 1 mo. old calf. It would be very difficult logisticly speaking (and detrementant it seems) to have them seperated for any length of time while the pup "grows up." Also, any advice on whether to get a male or female pup? We would plan on getting either fixed unless there is a good reason not to. Thanks again for help.

Follow-up question: would an adult dog raised elsewhere as an LGD "adopt" my livestcok to protect?

[Bearfootfarm]

The reason they suggest not putting them with young bottle raised babies is that they may not be agressive enough to "train" the dogs not to play too rough with them.
Older goats or sheep will put the pups in their place early on.
LGD's, like any other puppy, will want to play with their companions, and can easily hurt them.

The way around that would be to set up a pen for the dog inside the pasture/barn with the goats, so they become accustomed to each other through the fence first, and then gradually increase the SUPERVISED time they spend in contact until you can train the dog that they are NOT chew toys. That can take both time and patience

The simplest way to do that is with a shock collar, so that you can correct the pup from a distance, and he wont associate it with you. If youre too close, odds are they wont commit the errant behavior anyway.

Male or female wont make much difference, although the females DO seem to show more "mothering" instincts towards newborns. Either gender will protect the herd just as well

A couple of days ago I heard one of my Maremmas barking an abnormal bark, and found 2new lambs that she was helping to clean, while keeping all the other sheep at about a 10ft distance from them. My male was pretty much just standing around watching it all.

If youre not going to breed them, definitely have them neutered. Intact males are more likely to want to roam, and intact females will attract every dog in the county when in heat. And keep in mind a TRUE LGD belongs in the pasture. Dont confuse them by trying to make them "yard dogs"

http://www.bountifulfarm.com/lgd_seminar.htm

[highlands]

We have a pack of LGDs. They are a mixed breed with a bit of German Shepherd, a bit of Black Lab and a lot of other. They do both guarding and herding. I wouldn't want to farm without them. One dog is worth six people at herding, they work 24/7 and have far superior senses to detect dangers. The dogs mark their territory and that alone is does part of the job of keeping out predators. Both males and females are great. Teams of dogs are far better than single dogs. If you have strong predator pressures you need at least two.

Do not expect a pup to know its job and work immediately. It takes an adult to really work. This is a mistake I often see, people having too much expectation for a young dog. They should be raised around the livestock. They should work with you to see how you expect the job to be done. It helps a lot to have an older, experienced dominant dog to train a new dog.

See:

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/2007/08...ectations.html

for feeding:

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/2006/02...-big-dogs.html

and for fun:

http://sugarmtnfarm.com/blog/2007/02...s-to-dogs.html

Good dogs will make your homestead safer, farming easier and are excellent companions.

-Walter